Which permits does your market need?
Pick your city or county, tell us whether you'll have food, use public space, or set up tents and cooking, and get the permits that apply to you and your vendors, with fees, deadlines and official links. Covers 225 US cities and counties.
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Permits for your market in Greenville, SC.
To run a vendor market in Greenville, the organizer applies for the city's Permit A (festival or major event) or Permit C (single-day event) for public property, or a Temporary Use Permit from Planning and Development on private property. Vendors need a South Carolina Retail License, and food vendors are authorized by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture.
Not shown, based on your answers: food vendors. See everything for Greenville.
Event permit.
Special Event Permits A to D (festival or major event, races and parades, single-day event, block party)
The city sorts event permits by event type. The Permit A and Permit C descriptions both mention food and beverage sales. The detail pages for each permit did not load their text in the version read, so fees, lead times and insurance rules are not listed here.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Greenville Events and Public Art
- When
- Events on public property. Permit A covers festivals and major events that may include outdoor entertainment, food and beverage sales, alcohol or revenue; Permit C covers small single-day events without road closures; Permit B covers races, walks and parades; Permit D covers neighborhood block parties with no sales.
Permit E - Events on Private Property / Temporary Use Permit
Events on private property need a Temporary Use Permit from Planning and Development rather than the public-property special event permits.
- Who
- Organizer
- From
- City of Greenville Planning and Development Department
- When
- Events held on private property
Vendor and business licenses.
City of Greenville business license
The city says all businesses conducting business within Greenville must hold a business license, bought each year by April 30 and valid May 1 to April 30. New businesses apply in person, by fax or by mail rather than online, using the city's rate sheets and calculators to work out the tax.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- City of Greenville Business License & Revenue Center
- When
- Any business conducting business within the City of Greenville. The page does not address one-day or temporary event vendors separately, so confirm with the Revenue Center whether a one-off market seller needs one.
Sales tax.
Retail License
Sellers register through MyDORWAY, collect the 6% statewide sales tax plus any local taxes, and file returns. SCDOR says selling without a valid license can bring fines up to $500 per occurrence. Unprepared food meant to be eaten at home is generally exempt from the state tax, while meals and drinks for immediate consumption are taxable.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR)
- When
- Anyone selling at a retail event (no admission fee), selling more than once in 24 months at a special event, or selling at one festival a year; one license per location
- Fee
- $50 non-refundable fee
Artist & Craftsman License
This license lets craft-show-only sellers collect the 6% statewide tax plus local taxes. Anyone who also sells elsewhere, including online, needs the Retail License instead, and sellers at no more than four shows a year of 11 consecutive days or less may need neither.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR)
- When
- Artists and crafters who sell only at craft shows and festivals, products they created or assembled, more than four times in a fiscal year
- Fee
- $20 non-refundable fee
Special Event Return (FC-1) and Special Event Affidavit (FS-152)
One-time special event sellers do not need a Retail License but must complete and submit the Special Event Return and Affidavit. SCDOR representatives provide the forms at the event; sellers who have not received them by the end of the event are told to email SCDOR.
- Who
- Vendors
- From
- South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR)
- When
- Vendors who sell at a Special Event (an event that charges admission) only once in a 24-month period
What the rules ask of you about vendors.
SCDOR asks promoters and hosts to email it a list of participating vendors (name, business name, address, phone, email and Retail License number if provided) plus the event location, date and time, and whether the event charges admission. Vendors selling without a valid Retail License can be fined, and SCDOR provides a Retail License verification tool. Official page
Collect your vendors' permits with their applications.
Make the vendor licenses, sales tax registration and food permits above required documents on your application, and check them before you approve anyone.
Check with the office.
This checklist summarizes official government pages read on 2026-10-11. It isn't legal advice; rules, fees and deadlines change. Full page and sources for Greenville.
Common questions.
What permits do I need to host a vendor market?
Usually an event permit from the city or county, licenses and sales tax registration for vendors, and temporary food permits for anyone selling food. Parks, streets, tents and cooking can add more. Pick your city above to see the exact list.
Do I need a permit for a pop-up market on private property?
It depends on the city. Some only require permits on public property; others, like zoning temporary-use permits, apply anywhere. The checklist shows what each city's official pages say.
How far ahead should I apply for an event permit?
Often 30 to 90 days. The median deadline across 111 places in our study is 45 days, and 43 want 60 or more.
Permits sorted? Run the event on bzar.
Free for organizers: vendor applications with required documents, booth payments, tickets and check-in.